Rare P-Bass?

[chuck65]

This bass is an american made fender . It has a very short serial number, active electronics. Guy at the shop says it is from 1982 and is very "rare".Wants $1600.00 for it. Matching headstock says "Precision Bass special" on it.

Can anyone give any info on this bass ? The pic does not do it any justice. This bass is in near mint, with gold (??) hardware. Active passive switch. Battery hatch in the back.

If I can arm myself with real info ,mabye I could negociate the price a little.

Thanks for your time......... Chuck

 

[Tommygunn]

IIRC that seems like a decent price. Ebay them. I think theyre in the same price range as the fender elite II

 

[Buchada Azeda]

Looks legit. The P-Bass special was only available in 1982 and that one probably is one of those basses. Gold hardware, solid walnut body, matching headstock, black pickguard. Word is that only 100 of those were made.

 

[hasbeen]

they really aren't that rare. I had one in Lake Placid Blue, with matching headstock.

Hardware was "Fender Brassworks". A carry over from the late 70's when we all wanted brass stuff all over our instruments.

Active electronics: this was Fender's first stab at onboard preamps. ......trying to compete with Music Man. I ripped them out after a couple of months........very noisey.

If you like the bass and the neck is good, the price would seem fair. Not because it is "rare" though.

 

[hasbeen]

Looks legit. The P-Bass special was only available in 1982 and that one probably is one of those basses. Gold hardware, solid walnut body, matching headstock, black pickguard. Word is that only 100 of those were made.

not to be nit picky, but they came out in 1980...ran until 1983, where they were replaced by the Elite series.

 

[eltroyo11]

I don't know anything about the history/rarity of those basses, but my friend has (I think) the same thing in blue and it's phenomenal.

 

[chuck65]

Thank you for all of the great input!! Everyone knows what comes next.....What can I sell?? Hmm What can I sell??

 

[JimB52]

The all-walnut ones are not seen too often. $1600 is an OK to very good price.

 

[mikeswals]

The walnut ones aren't as easy to find, and the price is okay. The solid finish ones are easy to find.

 

[bassbully]

Those are very cool looking basses. I even really dig the walnut stained /ash with maple so much i now own one. I would grab that at that price for sure active or not. You can always get rid of the active latter.

 

[DBTOYS]

Nice Find

 

[pbass337]

get it. get it because its pretty

 

[mongo2]

The walnut ones aren't as easy to find, and the price is okay. The solid finish ones are easy to find.

Plus the walnut version has a walnut neck unlike the maple necks of the painted version.

 

[mikeswals]

I would grab that at that price for sure active or not. You can always get rid of the active latter.

The nice thing is they are active/passive with a small toggle switch next to the tone knob.
I have one, but don't particularly like the active preamp, I think it's rather crude. So I leave mine in passive.

 

[Jim C]

+1 to the above
Decent price, not particularly rare, and OK instrument with a not so great pre

I've played 2 of these years ago and they were extremely heavy; might double check this it weight is an issue for you

The fact that it is a very clean, original, 30 year old Fender makes it sellable without much/any loss in the future so long as it stays this way
.02